Metallic fence-post.



No. 709,6!7. Patented Sept. 23, I902.

.1 A. 'UTTEB.

METALLIC FENCE PDST.

(Application filed Jan. 24, 1902.) (N 0 M 0 d e l UNITED STATES ATENTOFFICE.

JOSEPH A. UTTER, OF ORAWFORDSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN F. UTTER,OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METALLIC FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 709,617, dated September23, 1902.

Application filed January 24,1902, fierial No. 91,054. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. U'ITER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Crawfordsville, in the county of Montgomery and State ofIndiana, have invented an Improvement in Metallic Fence-Posts; and Ihereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same.

My invention is designed for use in connection with wire in theconstruction of wire fence; and its object is to provide a metallicfence-post having a cement base, said fencepost being of a durable,firm, and ornamental character, capable of standing firmly in the :5ground and of holding the horizontal linewires of Wire fence or wovenwires securely by means of metallic clamps of so adjustable a characteras to allow said wires to be fastened to the upright bars of the post atany desired distance apart and to be shifted readily up or down at anytime as may be desired.

The invention consists in the several parts and their adaptation andcombination to form such a fence-post as is hereinafter fully set forthand described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View of apost. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the 0 clampand connections.

The cement base A, composed of cement, oement and sand, or cement andbroken rock in any desired proportions to produce adequate strength, isto be of size and shape adapted to be planted in the ground and toreceive and hold securely the lower ends of the two bars B and B,designed to stand parallel to each otherin an upright position toreceive and sustain the horizontal line-wires 0 D D D &c., attachedthereto by the clamps to be hereinafter described. Around the upper endof said cement base and embedded therein is placed a metallic band K,designed to strengthen it. Within the lower end of said base is ametallic core L, placed at or near the center thereof with one endfirmly attached to the lower end of the upright bars 13 and B at N, andthe other end is fastened to a suitable Weight M to keep said core inplace and afford additional weight and stability to the base. Thepurpose of said core is to hold the upright bars at a proper distancefrom the lower end of the base and to further strengthen it.

The lower end of the cement base is enlarged, so as to form a projectionor rim 0 around it, which enlarges the end surface of the base, causingit to set more firmly in the ground and to resist any force tending toraise or lower it in the ground or moving it sidewise. At the upper endof these bars a suitable cap or ornament F can be fixed by having atongue or flange thereof extend a short way down between said bars, towhich it can be riveted or bolted. This cap is designed to serve thedouble purpose of ornamenting the fence-post and of holding the tops ofthe bars I3 B in their proper relative position. These parts being setalong the proposed line of fence, the wires D D, &c., are strung and areheld in place by clamps which consist of broad backs 0, extending acrossthe rear edges of the vertical bars B, which form the posts, and sidesC, extending along the outer sides of the posts. These sides may betapered or convergent, as shown, and their front ends project a littlebeyond the front edges of the bars 13 and are slotted, as at H, so thatthe wires can be laid in the slots.

The wires are secured and the clamps locked to the posts by means ofhook-bolts E, the hook at the front end being adapted to engage thewire, and the rear end of the bolt passes through the back 0 of theclamp and is screw-threaded to receive a nut G, which being screwed downwill draw the hook end back and pull the wire tight into the slots post.This construction enables me to adjust the clamp up or down and to lockit firmly to a smooth post without the necessity of any serrations ornotches in the post.

By reason of the broad back with the centrally-disposed bolt the latterserves as a lever by its attachment to the wire, and any tendency topush the wire up or down will cause either the lower or the upper angleof the back to bind against the post and resist such movement. Thegreaterthe pressure the more tightly the wire will be clamped to thepost. The shanks of the bolts are preferably of a thickness tocorrespond with the tongue of the cap-piece F and t0 thus serve to main-H, at the same time looking the clamp to the ICO tain the post-sectionsB B at an equal distance apart throughout their length. When downwardpressure is exerted on said linewire, the arms of the clamp tenddownward and the upper edge of the broad back of the clamp is drawn moretightly against the rear surfaces of the upright bars and the loweredgeof the back of said clamp isthrown backward and away from the rearsurface of said bars, which draws the latch-bolt backward toward therear of said bars, clamping the line-wire more firmly and tightlyagainst the front surfaces of the upright bars, and when a force orpressure is exerted upward on said line-wires the same result isproduced,-to wit, the increased tightening of the line-wires against thefront surface of the upright bars. This automatic action of the clamp tofurther tighten and more firmly hold the line-wires against the uprightbars when upward or downward pressure is exerted on the line-wires andthe convenient adjustability of the line-wires by means of said clamp onthe upright bars at any desired distance apart without any notches,holes, or projections on the upright bars constitute an essentialfeature of said clamp.

I am aware that prior to my invention some metallic fence-posts havebeen made attached to a supporting-base. I therefore do not claim such acombination broadly.

The operation of the invention is such that when the base A is securelyplanted in the ground with the twin upright bars B and B embedded andattached to the base, as aforesaid, having their upper ends held inrelative place by the secured tongue of the cap F, and

the said metallic clamp is placed on the said bars, and the wires D D D&c., are placed in the slots H, Figs. 4 and 5, and the latchbolt isplaced over or under the line-wire D and its nut is screwed tight at theback of the clamp the desired objects are attained-- viz., thefence-post is held firmly in the ground and is finishedinanornamentalmannerat the topand holds the line-wire D so firmly and securely inplace asto resist anyordinary force or pressure in any direction,inasmuch as said clamp by its slots in conjunction with its broad backprevents any movement of the wire up or down and by its latch-boltprevents any movement of the wire forward or back. It provides aconvenient adjustability of the wire at any desired distance'up or downon the smooth surface of the fence-post, for whenever it is desired toreadjust the wire up or down on the fence-post it is only necessary toloosen adequately the said nut G at the back of the clamp to allow thec1arnp,with the line-wire in the slots, to glide up or down to anydesired point and then to tighten the nut again.

Having thus described myinvention, What I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. The combination in a metallic fence-post of a cement base havingembedded therein a pair of upright parallel metallic bars securedtogether at the top, adjustable clamps having slotted arms embracing theouter sides of the bars, latch-bolts passing between the inner separatedsides of the bars and through the clamps, and nuts securing said bolts.

2. In a metallic fence-post, the combination of a cement base, a pair ofupright bars embedded in said base and having smooth surfaces, asubstantially U-shaped clamp embracing the exterior of both bars andhaving its broad base bearing against the edges of the bars, and havingits arms adapted to receive a line-wire, and means for holding the clampto the bars.

3. The combination of an inseparable base; spaced upright bars fixedtherein; a metallic clamp having a broad back and slotted parallel armssaid arms embracing the outersides ofthe barsand said backhavingaholethrough it; a latch-bolt passing between the inner faces of the bars andhaving an end extending through the back of the clamp; and means forsecuring said end said, clamp having means at the opposite end to engagea fencewire.

4. In a metallic'fence-post for wire fence the combination of a cementbase having a metallic band around its top or embedded therein and ametallic core, and upright bars fixed in said base, the upper end ofsaid core being attached to said upright bars and the lower end of saidcore attached to a weight near the bottom of said base substantially asdescribed.

5. In a metallic fence-post, the combination of a cement base having aflange, a pair of parallel and spaced upright bars fixed in said base,said base having a metallic band embedded in it. near its top, U-shapedclamps embracing the outside of the upright bars and having means forreceiving the line-wire; and a bolt passing through the space betweenthe pair of upright bars, and also through the back of the clamp, andhaving a hook end to engage the portion of wire between the pair ofbars, and a means for securing the bolt.

6. The combination in a fence of substantially parallel and separatedvertical bars, a cement base in which they are fixed, a cappiece with atongue interposed to hold the bars apart, wire-holding clamps inclosingthe bars with the backs across their rear edges and slots for the wiresin the front ends of the clamps, bolts having hooks to engage the wiresbetween the arms of the clamps, screwthreaded rear ends passing throughthe backs of the clamps and nuts fitting thereon, the shanks of saidbolts acting as braces at intervals between the post-sections.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH A. UTTER.

Witnesses:

IRVIN C. DWIGGINS, STEPHEN A. STILLWELL.

ICC

